Dam collapse in Laos kills 9, 122 missing

Sanamxay (Laos), July 29: Nine people were confirmed dead while 122 others were still missing after a dam collapsed, triggering flash floods in southern Laos, a provincial official said on Sunday.

Minaphone Saisomphu, deputy party committee secretary of Attapeu Province, deputy commander of the rescue operation, confirmed the deaths. According to her, one body was found on Sunday, taking the death toll to nine, reports Xinhua news agency.

Minaphone said they found 131 people missing according to reports from village leaders and villagers.

As of Sunday, the disaster-hit area received about $400,000 of money and relief materials from Laos and other countries.

Being constructed by Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy Power Co, a joint venture of South Korean, Thai and Lao companies, the hydroelectric power project is estimated to cost $1.02 billion.